Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-04-29

So far as this is applicable to party, it is
true Of the Demscratic party Of Maryl and
to-day. There is "a spirit Of distrust and
dissatisfaction"; there are "dssensions" in
its ranks in all parts OF the State; and be-
cause OF the proved guilt Of its agents, IL Is
losing respect In the eyes" of the sister re-
publics Of the Union. Why lit? Ts quote
again from Junius, "The multitude In all
countries are patient 10 certain point. iii
usage may rouse their Indignation, and
hurry them to excuses but the original
fault is in government" So here. Nothing
could exceed the patience Of the democratic
masses Of Maryland; and If there Is to-day
demand for reform In party methods, 1t Is
because those whe have been entrusted with
the leadership of the party have abused
their trust, and denied to many of its rank
and file their rightful voice in its councils.
1t is an accepted axiem in politics, that
government should never press measures To
the point where resistance begins on the
part of the people: and this principle runs
all through the domain Of public affairs. 1t
applies to party management as well as to
the administration Of the government; and
its wisdom was demonstrated In the ever
throw Of the Republican party in Pennsyl-
vania four years ago, and in Rhede Island
the other day. The persistent disregard Of
It must produce revolution. aBoth liberty
and property are precarious." saws Junius.
sunless the pcssessers have sense and spirit
enough 10 defend them. #S%# Let me OK.
hort and conjure you, never TO suffer an
invasion of yeur Political constitution. hew.
ever minute the instance NAV appear. 10
pass by, without determined. perseyering
resistance, One precedent creates another.
They soon accumulate, and constitute law
What Yesterday was fact, to-day is doctrine. !"
And ali this. too. NAV be lust as true OF
party methods as Of government policy and
practices.
The modern idea of party loyalty, which
| bossism seeks to establish as fundamental
Political truth, is, that person in,alliaece
| with the cardinal principies Of 1 party Must
blindly follow the leaders wherever they
may 20 or direct, and that criticism Of party
management is treason. Carried out to its
| logical terminus. this idea would compel
submission 70 the yilest oppression, and has,
| indeed, been the argument of tyranny in ali
ages Of the werld. And yet it is not thought
/ wrong TO criticlse government, and, II 1t
| goes too far, resist the execution Of its man
| dates. Are the men whs wage war against
oppression. traitors, or patriots? The rsvo II
| is not against the laws, but against the men
| whs peryert them and If we may glorify q
revolution which for time at least, skaters
government and order, surely men Of prin.
ciple may be justified BY events, il they over
throw party managers In order that party
principles may live.
When, as Sometimes happens, an epidemic
Of crime breaks out 10 community, is 1t the
part of wisdom to permit Its perpetrators to
90 unpublished, and allow the good name Of
the community to be sullied, or to stamp out
the crime, bring tho criminals to justice, and
restore the respect and confidence of the
peopleg And when few bad men secure q
feothod in a party, resort 10 fraud to per
on il, Is IL right or wrong TO overthrow these
men and restore the party To its rightiul
place 10 the respect of the people?
That Is the simple question propounded
to the people of Maryland by the Oratorio
Hall meeting. and Il is respectfully sub